Anambra State Chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Humphrey Chukwuemeka Nwafor, has called for stronger synergy between the workers’ umbrella body and the police to ensure the well-being of workers in Nigeria.
Comrade Nwafor made this statement while speaking to journalists shortly after a peaceful protest and special prayer session held at the State Police Command headquarters in Amawbia-Awka on Thursday.
He explained that the protest and prayer session was in response to the directive from the national leadership of the NLC, following the invitation of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja for interrogation over terrorism and other allegations against him.
Nwafor warned against any attempt to detain Comrade Joe Ajaero, highlighting the potential consequences such an action might cause.
During the peaceful protest, the state NLC displayed a placard with the inscription “Ajaero is Not a Terrorist,” emphasizing that the police and the NLC should work collaboratively towards the welfare of all Nigerians, including the police.
The labor leaders marched from their Secretariat complex at Regina Celi in Awka to the Amawbia police command headquarters in the state.
According to Comrade Nwafor, “We are here at the police command headquarters on a national directive in solidarity with our National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who was invited by the police for questioning on accusations of terrorism, cybercrime, and other allegations. We are here for a prayer procession; we marched from our Secretariat at Regina Celi down to this place (police command).”
“We prayed with the Commissioner of Police. In all sincerity, the police and organized labor, especially the NLC, should be working together because whatever we achieve or whatever struggle we embark on is for the good of the common man, good for all. The police should not be used as an instrument to destabilize the labor movement in Nigeria. That’s our prayer,” he stated.
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The State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations (ACP) Anietie Eyoh, stated that the invitation of the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero, by the police was appropriate, as he is expected to answer questions regarding the allegations leveled against him.
He said, “Any person accused of being involved in any crime or any form of criminality, the police have the right to invite them. And so, if the police invited him, it’s for him to go and clarify himself and show that the allegations are not true. Inviting him is even considerate by the police, knowing that they know where to find him; they know where he is and recognize him as a public figure. If there is any allegation against him, they invite him to come and clear the grey areas.”
“Even if it were in Anambra State and the chairman in Anambra State was seen to have committed a crime, the Commissioner of Police would invite him. And when they invite him, he has to come and clear his name and explain whether he is a criminal or not. That’s all.”
CP Itam emphasized that the invitation of Comrade Ajaero by the Force headquarters in Abuja “is not a crime.” Instead, it is for the NLC President to go and clear his name and show whether the police’s claims are true or not
